Scouting Notes on Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez

I worked a few industry contacts late last night to get info on Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, who I’ve obviously never seen in person. I wanted to provide you with a brief synopsis of the info I received. I’ll write up a full scouting report when he signs and gets thrown into the system when I can see him for myself. For now, this is what we have.

Opinions on Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez vary to an almost startling degree. Members of some organizations think his extreme ceiling is that of a #2 starter while others are concerned he might ultimately end up as a reliever. We’ll have a better feel for it once he starts pitching in the states. Right now, Gonzalez will show you six different pitches. He features a fastball that scouts have seen sit anywhere from 88-95mph depending on when and where they saw him over the last few years. He’s been more 90-93mph while pitching in Mexico this year, it seems. His most prominent secondary offering is reportedly his splitter. He’ll also show a true changeup, curveball and a slider. There’s no consensus as to whether or not the slider is a pitch unto itself or if Gonzalez simply maintains his curveball grip and alters his arm angle to manipulate spin and trajectory. He’s recently added a high-80s cutter, so it’s possible that scouts who are sure that the slider is a separate pitch are seeing the cut and just calling t a slider. Again, as soon as we get a look at Gonzalez in person, all of this will become clear. In general, there seem to be questions about how viable Gonzalez’s breaking balls are at the Major League level.

Physically, the 6’2”, 185lb righty looks like he has some room to fill out, but he’s already 25 or 26 years old and I’m not sure it’s going to happen. The Phillies may decide to clean up his delivery a bit. There’s some violence in the head I’d like to see them iron out, but more importantly I’d like to see his front foot come down with a more direct path to the plate instead of flying open.

I won’t give an opinion on an OFP or anything like that until I’ve seen him in person. That could come in short order. We’ll learn more about the front office’s plans for Gonzalez’s development when they officially announce his signing.

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4 comments

Ihope this guy has talent and good health. However, it really does sound like a panic move on behalf of the Phils. Fact is that they may not be able to get much in return for their older stars like Papelbon, Utley, Ruiz, M. Young and Cliff Lee. The Phils may have overpaid for some and over-evaluated on others. My confidence in Ruben Amaro has never been lower, and it is still sinking.

Ryan

With their almost non-existent track record in the international player market — and the very real possibility that Amaro’s job is on the line over the next year — I’ve got to believe that they’ve scouted this guy intensely and believe he can start. You don’t throw $50 million at a “maybe he’s a bullpen guy” arm (if you’re the Phils).